The Pomp And Joe Show
Chris Hoke on Harbaugh, credits Steelers defensive line for physical play
07 Jan 2026
Chapter 1: What similarities exist between Mike Tomlin and John Harbaugh?
All right, Bob. By the time you and I are together again without a guest, it's going to be 1 o'clock. This is incredible.
That's right. We've got back-to-back hour-long guests.
Two of the finest football guests in the free world, I might add. The Hokinator, Dr. Hokenstein, Chris Hoke first, and then the big boy, Mark Caballi, at noon. Hokie, what a man you are. I'm curious. And Happy New Year. I'm curious.
Happy New Year.
Thanks, man. Where you were, who you were watching with, and how are you reacting emotionally during that fourth quarter the other day?
Well, you know, it was a lot of fun.
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Chapter 2: How did a missed field goal impact the Steelers' coaching situation?
Usually I'm sitting in that conference room down at KDKA, right, and just by myself. And there was not a lot of excitement, just me just watching the game and trying to analyze it and think through everything.
That can always be a good television show in and of itself, you know, just sitting there.
Yeah, I'm honest. I sit there. And, Pop, you never watch me that much, but when you watch me, I'm upstairs. When I'm downstairs, during commercial, I'm walking in circles, getting my steps in like you. I see Pop Starkey. I watch Pop at halftime getting his steps, walking up and down the stairs. We all do the same thing. We sit a lot, right? We sit a lot.
Yeah, he was just stretching in the hallway here, I caught him. Remember, Bob?
Yeah, I remember.
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Chapter 3: What role did the Steelers' defensive line play in their victory over the Ravens?
That's why Pop looks the way he does, right? That's why he was the model.
I'm like that old shoe that the caller called earlier. Need a little re-soling.
Yeah, but I was, so Sunday night I was with, at home, just sitting in my warm, comfortable chair with my boys, Nate, who was at BYU, was back there, and then Lincoln, the one who just graduated, enrolling in Pitt on Monday. Man, it was crazy. And then my daughter, my 14-year-old daughter was there watching with us. She was back and forth, you know. But it was incredible, man.
I tell you, Starkey, watching that game with my boys who are lifelong Steeler fans. I mean, they grew up loving the Steelers because I played. And they just carried on. They were going crazy. I had never cheered like that. I don't think ever.
Chapter 4: How does Cam Hayward's experience influence the Steelers' defense?
They had me jumping up and down and dancing and all that stuff.
That's great. Bob? Yeah, it was awesome. I mean, it really was. I mean, just the problem we had, you know, we have to go on live after this is all done, and we're running up and down trying to get everything together live. And what happens is you don't want to take yourself away from ā The viewing, right? Because if you do, you're going to miss something significant.
And in this case, it came right down to that final kick, which was just stunning. I still can't believe he missed it just because he's been so good at that. But that goes to show you, Chris, those kickers have a unique pressure, don't they? I mean, that's a job that, man, you've got to have.
You may not be called upon the whole day, and then all of a sudden with a game on the line and you have all those people on your sideline who you're representing with your foot, you've got to make it. It's hard.
Chapter 5: What are the challenges faced by NFL kickers under pressure?
Yeah.
and you better have a good relationship with the rest of the players because if you miss a kick like that man and they're going to hold you to count you know and and the reality is you have one job to do that's kick extra points and kick field goals and you know there's a lot of times when we look at those kickers during training camp right and we're out on the trove i remember when i was playing and it was a hundred plus heat index and we were sweating our tails off and then we'd see the kickers go walking off the field halfway through practice heading off to the fishing hole
right and we'd be sitting there busting our tails working but those kickers made kicks and it's that's okay as long as you as long as you make those big kicks man and the pressure is real it's thick and um that's why those guys are one of 32 people that are in the nfl Right. And at the highest level, because they're the ones that can take the pressure and kick them.
And man, listen, I know you don't want to feel bad for the guy because you're still a fan. But you saw it when Harbaugh was walking into the tunnel, came up behind him. The guy was crying and had his hands on his chin strap on his helmet. And Harbaugh put his arm around him. But it's just it's a tough one when it comes down to that. And you miss that kick that has become so routine.
Those 40 to 50 yard kicks now become so routine. When I was playing, it was like 50-50 over 40 yards. I remember Cowher saying that. 50-50.
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Chapter 6: Why was the Ravens' coaching change significant in the NFL?
Now it's routine 40 to 50.
Yeah, he hadn't missed one of those all season. But you mentioned Harbaugh. What do you think of the big story in the NFL, Hokie, which is the firing of Harbaugh? What's your take?
Well, first of all, I thought, would this have been the same result for us if he would have made that kick? Would it have been Tomlin who had gotten fired or Tomlin who said, it's time for a change of voice, a change of direction? I don't know. And luckily, we're not in that situation. And Tomlin did what Tomlin always does, got us back in the hunt, got us into the playoffs.
um and so i just think um that it's a tough it's a tough deal right i mean i can see how they would want to change the direction change of voice but when you look at guys when you look at what harbaugh has done i mean listen in 18 years 18 years 180 113 180 wins 13 11 the playoffs won a super bowl 12 playoff appearances, six AFC North titles and four AFC championship appearances.
That's a resume. That's a Hall of Fame resume. And it's tough to get rid of a guy like that.
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Chapter 7: What strategies can the Steelers employ against the Texans' offense?
But. Then I think on the flip side, you think of teams that got rid of Hall of Fame coaches like Andy Reid in Philadelphia. And he went to Kansas City and worked out and other guys that have done that. And they go somewhere else and they get a fresh start. And I think the Ravens are going to be successful. Let me tell you why.
They have a winning formula and it's very similar to the Steelers formula. And so I think that the Ravens aren't going anywhere no matter who comes in.
You know, that's interesting. And I wonder about this next hire down there, who it might be and what they're going to be looking, you know, because obviously Lamar Jackson's a big part of what they do. And he's the guy who you want to ride with. And apparently there was some friction there.
So I would imagine they may be looking at an offensive coach somewhere out there who's, you know, who's available. Although, you know, some of these defensive guys have had success as head coaches, not many recently. Do you think they'll go offense or defense in terms of the next guy they hire?
Chapter 8: Who are the key players to watch in the upcoming game against the Texans?
I think, listen, they're going to surprise you. Remember, Harbaugh came in as a special teams coach. He wasn't either. Remember, Paul?
Right, right, right.
And I found it interesting, you alluded to this in your comments leading up to your question, After the game, they asked Lamar Jackson if he wants Harbaugh back or some kind of question that asked that thing. And he didn't answer. He didn't respond, Pomp. He just said, man, we just lost. You're asking me this question. We just lost. He was not forthcoming.
And to me, it was telling because if you really wanted that coach back, you'd say, of course. So to me, without an answer, he answered the question. And you're right, I think there was some friction there. The reality is, you know, you bring an offensive coordinator in, you're going to have to understand that Lamar Jackson is an MVP quarterback, but he's not a pure thrower.
He's not like you go out and you get a guy to bring a guy in for Caleb Williams, who's a pure thrower, or you know you're going to draft a guy. I know Sean Payton went to Denver before Bo Nix got drafted, but you got Bo Nix there now with a guy who ā can throw the football, and that's what he does.
And so you've got to find a guy who's unique that can work with both what Lamar Jackson does with his legs when he's healthy and throwing the football. And the Ravens are like the Steelers. Let's run the football, man.
Chris Hoke, Super Bowl champion. He is on our YouTube channel right now. You can take a good look at him. There he is right in between Bob and I. We look like the Brady Bunch up there, Bob, don't we?
That's right.
Which one are you, Joe? I'm Peter. Okay. You're Greg. You're the oldest. I am. I'm the oldest. And then there's Bobby. All right. Hokie, yes, he knows what it's like to win it all. You can watch us. Subscribe to our YouTube channel. Get there through 937thefan.com or go straight to YouTube. Fan Twitter brought to you by South Hills Kia, Peters Township. Visit them at southhillskia.net.
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